Gruden had an inside track on the job because of his ties with Allen and others in the Redskins organization. He worked with Allen, Redskins defensive backs coach Raheem Morris and tight ends coach Sean McVay while with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was a Bucs assistant from 2002-08. He then coached under Redskins defensive coordinator Jim Haslett with the United Football League's Florida Tuskers in 2009.

Morris, McVay and Haslett were retained when Shanahan was fired, leaving it up to Gruden as to whether he will keep them on his staff.

Gruden is a member of the Arena Football League Hall of Fame, elected in 1999 after a career as a player and coach in the indoor league. His previous head coaching stints have come in Arena Football with the Orlando Predators and in the UFL with the Tuskers, whom he led to the UFL championship game the year after Haslett left to join the Redskins.